choconougat reviewed Making Money by Pu lai qi (Pratchett, Terry)
Making Money
3 stars
I didn't realise the parallel/mirroring plotlines when I read it, but now I sit and think of it, there is a parallel between Cosmo Lavish's trying to become Vetinari by looking like him, and Golems obeying Moist because he looked like the Umnian priest who wore golden suits. Cosmo did a very bad job looking like Vetinari, but Moist was good at it, maybe because Moist had a lot of practice being everyone in his con man career... in a way, Moist has more truth/substance in this appearance. Still, I feel the subplotlines are not so closely woven or mirroring this time. Well but I probably shouldn't ask for that, as in real life, things that are not relevant on purpose just happen and become an influence to each other, not the other way round.... well but a story is not a real life diary, innit. Main plotline should be …
I didn't realise the parallel/mirroring plotlines when I read it, but now I sit and think of it, there is a parallel between Cosmo Lavish's trying to become Vetinari by looking like him, and Golems obeying Moist because he looked like the Umnian priest who wore golden suits. Cosmo did a very bad job looking like Vetinari, but Moist was good at it, maybe because Moist had a lot of practice being everyone in his con man career... in a way, Moist has more truth/substance in this appearance. Still, I feel the subplotlines are not so closely woven or mirroring this time. Well but I probably shouldn't ask for that, as in real life, things that are not relevant on purpose just happen and become an influence to each other, not the other way round.... well but a story is not a real life diary, innit. Main plotline should be Moist's reformation (is this the word) to change the financial system of A-M, creating paper bank note to substitute coins, to get better circulation of money instead of everyone storing the money in their old socks under bed; and changing the basis of wealth from gold to golem, which represents the creator of wealth, saying 'the hands creating it worths more than the gold'. It's a good thought. Just a bit weak and not very much conflict there, so it's a bit .... boring. But it would make sense in the series, because Moist had gained trust from the public from Going Postal, and A-M is such a street theatre place that people are just curious and gambler enough to try his crazy ideas. Moist plays people, just like Vetinari plays even Moist. btw I see why people guess Vetinari means to cultivate Moist to take his place after he's gone ... it is ... a bit sad to see vetinari being a bit old and thinking of going, but it is inevitable, and he certainly wants what social change he has made on A-M would outlive him. I can't tell what is the point of Gladys plotline and the Glooper line in forming the narrative, but they are a bit fun and quirky on their own. They distract me from the main plot but it's fun to see. Even the dating part with adora belle ... is a bit unrelevant ... the lost one stars is for the unrelevance and distraction I got from fun subplotlines.
